Electroplating machine



2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR EYS W. F. HALL IELECTROPLATING MAbHINE Filed May 17, 1926 June 7,1927.

. therein.

Patented June 7, 1927.

' UNITED STATES 1,631,199 PATENT OFFICE. I

WESLEY I. HALL, OF MATAWAN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE HANSON & VAN

WINKLE COHPAN Y, O]? NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

ELECTROPLATING MACHINE.

Application filed May 17, 1926. Serial No. 109,720.

This invention relates to electroplating machines whereby articles are auton'iatically and mechanically put into and taken out of one or more baths, and more particularly to that class of machines in which the articles are carried b transverse rods or supports that are a apted to engage at their ends with IiftingIand conveying mechanism along the two sides of the tanks. It is imperati hat the lifting mechanisms on the oppos e sides of the tank engage both ends of a rod simultaneously as otherwise the rod might be lifted askew or in some cases one end engaged and one end not engaged with disastrous results. Such contingencies are quite likely to occur because of the lost motion,'swaying, or other irregularities of the sprocket chains, suspending hooks or other mechanisms used for conveyors or lifters.

It is the object of the present invention to insure such simultaneous engagement of the lifting mechanisms with the transverse carrier rods.

The invention comprises certain combinations of devices for holding a rigid transverse alignment between any two lifters adapted to engage the ends of any rod so that there will be no danger of this alignment being disturbed by reason of lost motion, swaying or other irregularities of the parallel conveying mechanisms.

The invention will be better understood by a description in connection with the accompanying drawings representing a particular embodiment thereof.

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section and elevation.

- Figure 2 is a detail partly in section of the lifting mechanism, and

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line 33 of Figure 2 An electroplating tank is represented at 1, having the usual anode bars 2 supported supporting the articles to-be plated, and these hangers are carried by transverse cathode bar 4 bridging the tank from side to side. On suitable frames 5 oneach side of the tank are mounted in proper journals 6, transverse shafts 7, of which there may be two or more. These shafts carr sprocket wheels 8 for sprocket chains 9. he upper lengths of these sprocket chains run in channels 10 (see Figure 2),'suitable rollers 11 At'3 are shown the hangers for on the chain supporting the same in the channels. The channels are connected to the cathode end of the source of electric current. The transverse cathode supporting rods 4 are extended over the sides of.

The articles to be plated are deposited into 1 and taken out of the tank by means of a vertical conveyor at each end of each tank. This conveyor comprises two sprocket chains 20, one on either side carried by sprocket wheels 12 mounted on shafts 13, runnin in bearings-14, carried by the frames 5. The lifting of the cathode supporting rods 4 is accomplished by hooks 15, having forked ends as shown at 16 in Figure 3, adapted to engage the ends of the cathode rods 4 behind end flanges 17 on said rods. The hooks 15 are, therefore, in pairs and are attached at transversely opposite points by pivotal supports 18 to the links of the chains 20. The two hooks of each pair are rigidly connected by a transverse beam 19, the object'of which is to insure that the two hooks I of one pair shall simultaneously engage the two ends of the cathode rod 4. These pivotal supports are pivoted to the links as shown at 21 and a Journal extension 22 carries the hooks 15 by means of two ball bearing's 23. The construction is, therefore, such that the transverse bar 19 can maintain the rigid frame formed by the bar 19 and the hooks 15 all square with the tank and not allow any irregularities of the conveying mechanism or swinging of the hooks to interfere with its accurate alignment with the rods with which it is intended to engage. Without such rigid transverse connection, the swaying of the chains or the lost motion therein renders it liable for one of the hooks to be displaced sufliciently topass by the endof the rod 4 during the lifting operation, resulting disastrously unless the machine is instantly stopped.

I claim 1. In combination with an electro-plating tank, a horizontal conveyor comprising horizontal conveyor chains located on each side of the tank, a bar resting transversely on said horizontal conveyor chains for supporting an article to be treated in said tank,

a vertical conveyor situated above said horizontal conveyor comprising vertical ,conveyor cha ns, hooks on said vertical conveyor chains ada ted to engage the ends of said transverse bar simultaneously and raise the same, and a transverse beam rigidly attached at its ends to said hooks, whereby the transverse alinement of the hooks is assured.

2. In combination with an electro-plating tank, a. horizontal conveyor, a bar resting transversely on said horizontal conve or for supporting an article to be treated m said tank vertical conveying sprocket chains situated above said horizontal conveyor, anda rigid liftin frame pivoted at each end to certain of t e links of said sprocket chains comprising hooks adapted to engage the ends of said transverse bar simultaneously and raise the same, and a" transverse beam rigidly attached at its ends to said hooks, whereby the transverse alinement of the hooks is assured.

WESLEY F. HALL. 

